Arthritis is a significant cause of chronic pain and disability, affecting around 3.5 million Australians. However, little is known regarding the overall diet quality of those living with arthritis. This study aimed to assess the dietary quality of Australians living in the Australian Capital Territory region with arthritis. This cross-sectional study analysed dietary intake data of individuals living with arthritis using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Dietary quality was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) to examine associations between diet composition, age, income and arthritis impact using the short form of the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales 2 (AIMS2-SF). Participants, predominantly female (82.6%), were grouped by age: 18–50 years (n = 32), 50–64 years (n = 31), and 65 + years (n = 23). Significant correlations were observed between age and HEI-2015 (r_s = 0.337, p = 0.002) and income and AIMS2-SF (r_s = − 0.353, p < 0.001). The mean HEI-2015 score for the 18–49 years group was fair (72.1 ± 12.3), lower than both the 50–64 years group score of good (81.5 ± 9.72) (p = 0.004), and the 65 + years group score of good (81.8 ± 12.1) (p = 0.007). Dietary fibre, seafood and plant protein, fatty acids, and refined grains were identified as dietary components of concern for the 18–49 years group, and total fruit and added sugar were components of concern for people in the worst tertile for the AIMS2-SF. People aged between 18 and 49 years are consuming a lower quality diet compared to people aged 50 years and over. Further research is needed to understand why this association is occurring in this high socioeconomic region of Australia (a high-income country).

关节炎是造成慢性疼痛和残疾的重要原因，影响了约350万澳大利亚人。但是，对于患有关节炎的人的整体饮食质量知之甚少。这项研究旨在评估居住在澳大利亚首都特区患有关节炎的澳大利亚人的饮食质量。这项横断面研究使用经过验证的食物频率问卷分析了患有关节炎的个体的饮食摄入数据。饮食质量使用《健康饮食指数2015》（HEI-2015）进行评估，使用“关节炎影响量表2”（AIMS2-SF）的简短形式检查饮食组成，年龄，收入和关节炎影响之间的关联。参加者主要为女性（82.6％），按年龄分组：18–50岁（n  = 32），50–64岁（n = 31）和65 +年（n  = 23）。年龄和HEI-2015（之间观察到显著相关性[R_小号 = 0.337，p  （= 0.002）和收入和AIMS2-SF ř_小号 - 0.353，= p  <0.001）。18-49岁年龄组的HEI-2015平均得分是公平的（72.1±12.3），低于50-64岁年龄组的良好得分（81.5±9.72）（p  = 0.004）和65岁以上年龄组良好分数（81.8±12.1）（p = 0.007）。在18-49岁年龄组中，膳食纤维，海鲜和植物蛋白，脂肪酸以及精制谷物被确定为关注的饮食成分，而总水果和添加糖是AIMS2-SF最差三分位数人群关注的成分。与50岁及以上的人相比，年龄在18至49岁之间的人的饮食质量较低。需要进一步的研究来了解为什么这种联系在澳大利亚这个高社会经济地区（一个高收入国家）发生。